Day Three, Monterrey, sort of, and The PCH, Big Sur and Pismo Beach

[Twentyyears]

Day Three, Monterrey, sort of, and The PCH, Big Sur and Pismo Beach

We had another good nights sleep, most of the beds were fabulous on the whole trip TBH. I had a bit of a panic in the morning when I opened the door, I thought the car had gone! It wasn’t in the space in front of our room. DH came running from the loo and then started laughing; he had forgotten to tell me he had moved it the previous night as he had realised the spaces were marked with “car sizes” and we had parked our intermediate car in a compact space. Heart attack I nearly had! Oh, and we are in California but picked a car with a Texas number plate, go figure!



We had the free continental Bfast, there was a really good selection and a waffle maker.



Hubby and I had a dip in the mini heated pool








And then we hit the mall just across the road anice little one “Del Monte Mall”. Hollister sale DS got long sleeve top, hoodie and two T's for £50. he also traded three USA games he had from another trip for two ps vita games and the diff was only $5.

Bath and body works for £10 for 10 mini hand sanitisers, DS loves these for school and all his mates wait to see which ones he comes back with from his trips!

Lots of treats seen for Hannikins and any Ariel lovers- in Hot Tropic!







Headed on out of Monterey and had three versions of plan, Aquarium but weekend queues meh. The wharf, nice but cannot fit on everything so 17 mile drive it was. I know this is spectacular by the beach but ,oh boy, how have they spoilt it since we last did it 18 years ago.


All the buildings along there and the PCH used to be in keeping with the environment and atmosphere, grey and wood houses by the beach and on the cliffs, large windows for the views but nestled in the cypress trees to avoid starkly hitting you in the eye. Well you may need money to live on the 17 mile drive but you definitely don't need to have taste. Some of the houses look like orange and cladded house of the 60's and some with pillars and pillared balconies. Colours that jarred with and scarred the landscape.

This one wasn't soo bad



It is so sad they have let planning permission run away and there is no such control as there is in England, obviously if you have money you are allowed to build what you like, so disappointing. We wished we hadn't wasted that hour or so and gone to the Wharf.

We saw this sight along the way, sooo many!

Some new native wildlife!

Some real wildlife!

And the beautiful views

We arrived at Nenpenthe, Kevah Cafe, Big Sur, which was wonderful as ever and the sun had shone through by then.




It still has the same the same fab view and as we sat there a humming bird came by and I had never seen one before. Well DS is a bit of a David Bailey so these are his!





Be warned, even in high summer the Cafe seems to shut at around 3.30/4pm.

Toilets have a wonderful door though!

Cont;

[parisdisneyfan]

I'm guessing you've had a rainy grey Sunday too so got on with the trip report Sandi? Thank you

Great hummingbird shots, I tried when we saw one at Hearst Castle but missed it.

We must have been going around 17 mile drive around the same time!

Looking forward to the next bit.

[Twentyyears]

Cont;




So we didn't manage Hearst Castle, this was only a possible in our plan, but we've been before and DS wanted to see Seal Beach, actually Piedras Blancas. WOW those things are huge!













It was a strange day weather wise, sun then mist then cloud then sun, true PCH style. Seal beach was especially cold and windy we didn’t stay there long.

That bit of coast is truly twisted and windy, so make time for that and add a couple of hours onto your mileage.

Not sure where this was or why it was here but a patriotic find...




We made it to the fabulous Madonna Inn in San Luis Pismo , mad place but so is Cali.





Sorry, a bit blurred but you get the "kitsch" theme!





We both had the most wonderful Steak SW aux jus. DS a burger, again! Both around $11, reasonable for this famous venue we thought. So at least we had had dinner before we hit the hotel.





Oh and some small bits of cake to go!



So we were quite late arriving to our last stop on the coast the Cottage Inn by the Sea and we planned a truly restful am by the beach, there was meant to be a little more pm time there but it was still lovely by night.

We got a partial Sea view and a fabulous vaulted ceiling room. Robes and all.









So we had shutters on the balcony door so we went to bed with the sound of the waves and fresh air, lovely.Oh, and some tea and cake!

[Twentyyears]

Originally Posted by parisdisneyfan

I'm guessing you've had a rainy grey Sunday too so got on with the trip report Sandi? Thank you

Great hummingbird shots, I tried when we saw one at Hearst Castle but missed it.

We must have been going around 17 mile drive around the same time!

Looking forward to the next bit.

See more...

You guessed right Julia, so fed up of this rain...hope to get a bit more done next weekend and then have two very busy weekends so no hope me thinks. Goes much quicker now with daily notes from the iPad and photos all sorted into files for each day.

[mariechez]

Looks amazing, love the Hummingbird shots and Chelsea shirt .

[WileyCoyote]

Fabulous, the PCH is so stunning and I love those views. Seal beach is amazing isn't it. Live the place in Pismo where you had dinner and omg the cake portions. Cottage Inn is a treasure isn't it. Ah your report is bringing back so many memories, it's lovely, thank you. Ps the hummingbird pic is stunning !

[WileyCoyote]

Ps again, I did laugh when you thought the car had gone, that's just the sort of thing Andy would do to me !

[Twentyyears]

Thanks Marie and Amanda,

DS does have an eye, got him the Nikon 1 for bday and Xmas out there so some later shots after the purchase are incredible.

Many more of those shirts in this house, true blues.

Marie, look at that countdown, are you sleeping?

Amanda, loving your current trippie; congrats by the way, the ring is beeuutiful!

[anji]

Wow your trip has brought back some great memories

We stopped at the Madonna Inn too for lunch - surreal place and the thickest sandwiches I've ever seen! Loved the whole PCH

[mariechez]

Originally Posted by Twentyyears

Thanks Marie and Amanda,


Many more of those shirts in this house, true blues.

Pleased to hear it although after last nights performance they need a kick up the backside

Marie, look at that countdown, are you sleeping?

I think im in denial at the moment lol, trying to keep it under control so l don't freak out

See more...